The name

scar·i·fy [skar-uh-fahy]

–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.

1.	to make scratches or superficial incisions in (the skin, a wound, etc.), as in vaccination.

2.	to lacerate by severe criticism.

3.	to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator.

4.	to hasten the sprouting of (hard-covered seeds) by making incisions in the seed coats.

5.	to break up (a road surface).

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[Origin: 1400–50; late ME scarifie scarifier scarīficāre, alter. of L scarīfāre, scarīphāre to make scratches skarīphâsthai to sketch, deriv. of skárīphos stylus]

—Related forms

scar·i·fi·er, noun